Mastitis history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]

Overview

In most cases, patients may present a few days after delivery with localized breast complaints. The affected area is often close to the nipple and areola and commonly occurs on the upper inner side of the breast. The affected area usually occurs only on one breast and very rarely is the whole breast affected.

The most common symptoms of mastitis include: redness of the affected area, pain local to the affected area and local differential warmth.^[1]^[2] Some patients may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as aches, shivering and chills, although this is less common.

History and Symptoms

In most cases, patients may present a few days after delivery with localized breast complaints. The affected area is often close to the nipple and areola and commonly occurs on the upper inner side of the breast. The affected area usually occurs only on one breast and very rarely is the whole breast affected.

Most common symptoms

The most common symptoms of mastitis include:^[1]^[2]

Redness of the affected area,
Pain local to affected area
Diffuse density/palpable mass of varying volume
Local differential warmth
Swollen lymph nodes on the affected side, rarely both sides

Less common symptoms

Some patients may also experience flu-like symptoms such as:

Aches
Shivering
Chills
Feeling anxious or stressed
Fatigue

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Kent JC, Ashton E, Hardwick CM, Rowan MK, Chia ES, Fairclough KA; et al. (2015). “Nipple Pain in Breastfeeding Mothers: Incidence, Causes and Treatments”. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 12 (10): 12247–63. doi:10.3390/ijerph121012247. PMC 4626966. PMID 26426034.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 An JK, Woo JJ, Lee SA (2016). “Non-puerperal mastitis masking pre-existing breast malignancy: importance of follow-up imaging”. Ultrasonography. 35 (2): 159–63. doi:10.14366/usg.15024. PMC 4825209. PMID 26169080.

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[pmid26426034-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Kent JC, Ashton E, Hardwick CM, Rowan MK, Chia ES, Fairclough KA; et al. (2015). “Nipple Pain in Breastfeeding Mothers: Incidence, Causes and Treatments”. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 12 (10): 12247–63. doi:10.3390/ijerph121012247. PMC 4626966. PMID 26426034.

[pmid26169080-2] 2.0 ^2.1 An JK, Woo JJ, Lee SA (2016). “Non-puerperal mastitis masking pre-existing breast malignancy: importance of follow-up imaging”. Ultrasonography. 35 (2): 159–63. doi:10.14366/usg.15024. PMC 4825209. PMID 26169080.

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